For years, Senator George Borrello has been advocating for corrections officers facing difficult working conditions. He criticizes the HALT Act, stating it worsens the safety and order in prisons by removing essential tools from officers. Borrello expresses his ongoing support for these officers in their pursuit of fair treatment.
A tentative agreement between New York State and NYSCOPBA, mediated recently, proposes a temporary suspension of some HALT Act provisions to allow for evaluation. Borrello is cautious about whether this will lead to meaningful reforms. He notes a positive step in the agreement: a third-party mail vendor will screen all incoming inmate mail. However, he points out the absence of mandatory body scanners for visitors to detect dangerous drugs such as fentanyl and K2, which have caused life-threatening emergencies among corrections officers.
Borrello emphasizes that it’s up to the striking corrections officers to decide if the agreement meets their concerns. Continuing the strike poses risks like financial penalties, lost wages, and loss of health insurance. He pledges unwavering support regardless of their decision or challenges they face.
Borrello criticizes current policies and leadership, blaming them for increasing lawlessness both on streets and within prisons. He argues that these policies threaten those maintaining order behind prison walls and warns that without change, chaos will worsen.
